BY DOUG?HUFF

For The Wetzel Chronicle

Eight former Blue Eagle student-athletes from four decades will be recognized at the 26th annual Magnolia Athletic Boosters Life Achievement Awards Banquet.

The event will be held on Aug. 6 at Magnolia High School and is open to the public. A social hour starts at 5 p.m., followed by dinner at 6 p.m. Tickets are available at Witschey’s in New Martinsville or from Banquet Chairman Brent Gamble at 304-455-3234.

The honorees, listed by graduation year and their hometown, follow:

Robert Warden (1958) of Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; Richard Blair (1963) of Boardman, Ohio; Dale Hermeling (1979) of St. Louis, Mo.; James Blatt (1980) of New Martinsville; Amy Jones Boles (1982) of Washington, W.Va.; William (Andy) Wilson (1983) of Austin, Texas; Christopher Marshall (1988) of Matthews, N.C.; and Brian Stolarik (1989) of Morgantown.

Capsule summaries of each honoree include:

Warden–He was a four-year football and baseball player at Magnolia and also competed three years in basketball. He attended Marietta College where he played football and baseball and graduated from West Liberty State with a Marketing degree in 1964. He retired in 2007 from a career as a Professional Golf Association of America teaching pro in Fort Lauderdale after working in the business community. Married to the former Joyce Henslee, they are the parents of son Mike.

Blair–He was a member of the first two Blue Eagle golf teams and served as football, basketball, and track team statistician and manager. Active in school functions, he was a two-year National Honor Society member. He graduated from Franklin & Marshall College and the Ohio Northern University College of Law plus extended continuing education. From 1970-2003, he worked for the Youngstown law firm of Roth, Blair, Roberts, Strasfield & Lodge and is a current counsel. Since 2003, he’s mediated over 3,000 cases as Mahoning County Common Pleas Court Mediator. In 2004, he was selected Lawyer of the Year by the Mahoning County Bar Association. He and wife Ellen have four children and seven grandchildren.

Hermeling–A four-year football standout and heavyweight wrestler, he was co-captain of the 8-3 record 1978 football squad and earned All-Valley recognition. Active in school functions, he was a three-year member of the National Honor Society and Young Men’s Union, and president of both organizations. He also was editor and four-year contributor to the Eagle Eye newspaper.

He graduated from Princeton University, where he played football, and also the St. Louis University School of Law. He has remained in the St. Louis area as a practicing lawyer and has been recognized as a Best Lawyer in America and Best Lawyers in St. Louis. Since 1993, he has worked with The Stolar Partnership. He and wife Carrie have three children.

Blatt–He was a four-year participant in football, track, and cross country at Magnolia. At the 1980 W. Va. Class AA Track Meet, he placed fifth in the 800-meter run and also was a member of the third place 4×800 relay unit. He also was a National Honor Society member. He graduated from West Virginia Tech with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. For the last 24 years, he has worked as an engineer with the Bayer Corporation. Also, he is active in announcing and keeping game statistics for Blue Eagle football, girls and boys basketball contests. He and wife Claire have four children.

Boles–At Magnolia, she was a four-year member of the track team and also competed in volleyball one year. She also served in the Blue Eagle band for four years. She was a Cum Laude graduate in Physical Therapy from West Virginia University. Since 1987, she has been a physical therapist in the Parkersburg area. She also is active in Parkersburg South Boosters for soccer, football, swimming, and track.

She and husband Trent have four children–boys aged 19, 18, 16, and 14.

Wilson–At Magnolia, he was a four-year football performer and played baseball three years and basketball one season. He earned first team Class AA all-state as a football lineman and also was an All-Valley honoree. He also was a four-year member of the Young Men’s Union and served as president as a senior. He attended Purdue University on a football scholarship and was a three-year participant. He graduated in the School of Technology in Building Science and is currently a project superintendent for the Hensel Phelps Construction Company in the Austin area. He and wife Raquel are parents of two children.

Marshall–He was a four-year Blue Eagle football player and also competed two years in track and one year in basketball. Active in school events, he was a member of the Young Men’s Union and Varsity Club. He graduated from West Virginia University in Nursing. He recently joined the Johnson & Johnson Corporation after serving as a medical device and pharmaceutical representative after six years as a registered nurse. He and wife Beth have two children–Zach and Katie.

Stolarik–At Magnolia, he was a four-year football performer and co-captain of the 10-2 record 1988 team. He was a first team Class AA All-State lineman and earned All-Valley and All-OVAC honors. He also was selected for the Hunt Award as the Outstanding High School Lineman in W. Va. Also, he competed in baseball three years. Active in school organizations, he was a member, and president, of the Young Men’s Union plus the Varsity Club. He received three degrees, including a master’s in Electrical Engineering, from West Virginia University as a dean’s list student. Since 2002, he has worked as vice-president–Mission Systems Group, of the West Virginia High Technology Consortium Foundation. Previously, he worked for Lockheed Martin, Carnegie Group Inc., and NIOSH. He and wife Jessica have a son, Bryan.